Heating device.



No. 889,343 PATENTED DEG.25,1906.

' P. M. VOGEL.

HEATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APB-22, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

a h 5 /2s Witnesses: as F d/nyil/zlljfir: re er/C O W @M UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE,

FREDERICK VOGEL, OF LYN N, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I HEATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Application filed April 22, 1905- Serial No. 256,860-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. VoeEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates generally to heating devices, and more particularly to that type in which an electric resistance-conductor is employed as the heating element.

The general object of the invention is to improve the efficiency of devices of this sort, While at the same time maintaining a simple construction and a low cost of production.

To this end the invention comprises certain novel features of construction. One of these is a heat-distributing element or container of minimum heat-storage capacity,

having its metal distributed about the heating unit so as to conduct the heat from all parts of the unit to the working face of the device with equal facility. The small storage capacity cuts down the usual time and energy losses due to heating and cooling a large mass of metal each time the device is used, and the novel disposition of the metal insures a minimum loss of heat due to radiation into the atmosphere. i 3

Another feature of the invention resides in a novel construction of heating unit, which is put up in the form of a cartridge, so that it may be readily inserted into or withdrawn from its socket in the container or heat-distributing element for the purpose of renewal or repairs. This cartridge consists of an exterior envelop, in which is located an electric resistance-conductor, preferably consisting of a continuous helix of edgewise-wound conductor-ribbon, having its turns insulated from each other and the interior of the envelop.

In addition to the novelty of the heat-distributing element and the resistance-cartridge the invention also comprises certain other features and details of construction,

which will be described more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Although the features of the invention are capable .of use in various types of electric heating devices-such as stoves, griddles, water-heaters, chafing-dishes, and the likeI have chosen to illustrate the same in an electrically-heated flat-iron and an-electricallyheated frying-pan.

In the accompanying drawings, in-which these embodiments of the invention are illustrated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the flat-iron. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same Fi 4, a perspective view of the retaining-blockfiiy which the resistance unit is held in place Fig. 5, a rear view of the body of the flat-iron Fig. 6, a longitudinal section of its weighted handle, while Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate in elevation and plan, respectively, the frying-pan construction; and Fig. 9 illustrates in perspective the resistance-cartridge employed as the heating unit.

Throughout the several views like characters refer to like parts.

In these two forms of the invention, 10 designates, generally, the heat-distributing element, and 11 the heating or resistance unit associated therewith. In each form the heat-distributing element is referably integral and composed of metal throu hout. The working face 12 of the element ies in close proximity to the heating unit, so thatat the points of nearest approach a very thin shell or layer of metal intervenes. This enables the heat of the unit to be applied practically directly to the work at those portions of the Working face 12 lying adjacent to the unit. In order to convey the heat from the other parts of the heating unit to the working face, a somewhat thicker layer or body of material is disposed over the other portions of the unit. 'lhus the upper part of the unit is covered by the portion 13, which conforms in exterior outline to the adjacent surface of the unit, while a somewhat thicker mass of material 14 connects the portion 13 with the working face. The amount of metal thus employed should be sufficient to furnish a conductive path of enough capacity to care for substantially all the heat radiated from the top and sides of the. heating unitand to convey it to the working face of the device. A larger mass is not only unnecessary but objectionable, Since its only effect would be to increase the heat-storage capacity of the device. It will be seen that by this disposition of the metal of the container a very efhcient and quickly-responsive heating device is obtained. Obviously thisconstruction is capable of use in many types of heating apparatus. When employed in flat-iron con- 5 struction, the face 12 becomes the smoothingface of the iron, and the weight necessary tothe successful operation of the iron is provided by weighting the handle, while in the frying-pan construction the face 12 become I the bottom of the pan, and the usual rim 12 is provided, preferably by making the same integral with the heat-distributing member. In the case of the fiat-iron the yoke 15 of the handle is secured to the up er side of the i body of the iron in any suitab e manner, as

by a screw \16,and is prevented from rotating by the lug 16*, wh ch closely enga es the opposite side of the yoke. The andle proper, 17, is included between the outer 2 ends of the yoke and comprises a central rod, 18, extending through the weight 19, and an exterior covering 20, of fiber or other suitable heat-insulating material. In the case Of the frying-pan the heat-distributing 'eleg 2 5 ment may be supported in any desired manner, as by the legs12 secured to lugs 12 on the under side of the pan and connected by a central plate 1.2 A handle 12 may also be I provided. Obviously the heat-distributing element may be associated with a pluralityof heating units by molding the metal so as to conform closely to the outline of each of the units in themanner disclosed inFig. 7 and 35. leaving the proper number of sockets or chambers for the insertion of the.=heating v:unets. v r

. The heating unit 11 preferably takesthe em; of a cartridge, having an exterior en-' aowelopbr tubular casing 21, consisting of. coperorother heat conducting material and aving its ends spun down over a co per head-22, located at one end, and a orce ain, slate, or other insulating-head 23, ocated at- 4. the op osite end. Within this casing is lo- 1 cated t e resistance unit, which is preferably of the edgewise type, consistin of a continuous helical conductor 24, wound on ed e, with its adjacent turns insulated from eac other by some suitable insulation, such as amix .ture of silicate of soda and clay, which in ad dition to insulating the turns binds the whole together ina. rigid tubular-structure, whichmay be readily inserted or withdrawn 5 5 from the tubular ca'sin when assembling or repairingthe unit. T e helical winding is insulated from the metal head of the casing I by aheat-refractory insulating-disk 25and from the tubular portion 21' of the casing by '60 insulation 26, which preferably consists of anumber .of sheets of'mica, which are closely fitted about the resistance-winding before it is inserted in the casing '21, so as toie'ave, practically no space for the-expansion of the 5 mica,thereby greatlyfacilitating the transfer of the heat from the conductor 24 through the mica to the casing 21 and thence to the heat-distributing element 10, since the mica when under compression isprevented from cleaving or bliste'ring,,and thus providing a heat-insulating envelo as is common where it is not maintaine under pressure or otherwise held from lateral expansion. The winding 24 is connected to terminals 27 28 by leads 27 28*, respectively, which extend through the insulating-head 23 of the cartridge structure. Since the lead 27, must extend throughout the'length of the helical winding 24, the latter is provided on its interior with mica or other insulation 29, so as to revent a possible short circuit incase the lead 27 a should become displaced.

Obviously the resistance cartridge or unit v may be held. in place in any suitable manner. In the fiat-iron, where the body of the iron i. e., the heat-distributin element-has a socket o ening rearward,.t e heating unit is.

referably held in place by a wedge-shaped lock 30, which fits into vertical grooves 31, f located at the open end of the socket. As 0 clearly shown in Fig. 4, this block is provided with openings. for the passageof the terminals 27 28, which 1 extend upward therethrough. These terminals are, threaded at 32 for the rece tion of small nuts 33, which bear against the ripper side of the wedge-- block 30 and prevent its removal, and con-, sequently the removal of the unit 11. In the way very small nuts serve to keepiall the. parts in place. Obviously in service the ter- 10: minals 27 and 28 are connected to some suitable source of current-supply, and'the passage of the current through the resistanceconductor 24 produces the desired heat 'en-p ergy, which is transmitted, as'previously .in- "log dicated, to the working surface 12 of the heatingd'evice.

The construction hereinbefore described has a number of advanta es'thatare con- 'sidered' decisive in practica operation: nc First. The heatin unit being removable from the body tobe cated and'all the units being made of a definite size ermits terrupted work in case of any amage to the resistance which would .prevent a normal ad I 1 5 tion. A defective unit 'may therefore be quickly removed and insplectedand a spare unit put in its place if t e damage require expert attention.

Second. The thin wall of metal between the V I 20 heating unit and the work enables the work ing surface of the device to be brought al-f." most instantly to the temperature necessary for use. In-suchdevices, particularly flat-I irons as commonly constructed, there isa large mass of metalaroundthe unit which, ust be heated, before the working surface is at a temperaturefit to be used, This consumes time. In th'eg device of my construction the instrument-may be, used ialmostrim-l mediately on the current being turned on, because there is almost no storage capacity for heat by reason of the thin wall of metal between the unit and the work. Besides this there is an important incidental advantage in that the instrument cools off very quickly after the. current is interrupted by reason of this same small storage capacity for heat. Consequently the room in which the work is being conducted can be maintained at a more comfortable temperature for the operator, since very little heat is thrown off into the atmosphere, almost all of it being drawn into the work, and when the service is interrupted and the current cut off the device quickly cools.

Third. By reason of the small mass of metal around the unit and the excellent heatconductive relation between the working surface and all parts of the heating unit the heat is supplied at a much more uniform rate to the work. This is of great advantage in flatirons, .Where some parts of the goods may be more damp than others, and consequently can stand with advantage a higher heat.

Where there is a large mass of metal, the working face is lowered in tem erature when a larger proportion of heat is adsorbed by the work, and the thermal lag, so to speak, prevents the highly-heated surface of all parts of the resistance unit from responding to maintain the temperature at the work-surface. With my construction, however, the intervening mass of metal is so small that its thermal lag is almost nil, and the heating unit can respond very quickly to keep up the temperature at the Working surface, irrespective of the character of the goods being operatedu on or of the condition as to dampness of di erent parts of the goods.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the number of heating units employed and their relative arrangement might be varied and that other modifications and alterations might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the s ecific matter illustrated and described, ut aim to cover by the terms of the a pended claims all such alterations and modiiibations.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An electric heating device comprising a metal container, an electric resistance unit located within said container, and a layer of mica closely surrounding said unit and held from expansion in the direction of cleavage.

2. A'resistance-cartridge for electric heating devices comprising an exterior shell, an electric resistance unit closely fitted within said shell, and an intervening layer of mica between said unit and said shell held from cleavage expansion by the close fit of said unit within said shell.

3. A resistance-cartridge for electric heating devices comprising an exterior shell, a coil of electric resistance-conductor closely fitted within said shell, and an intervening layer of mica between said coil and said shell held from cleavage expansion by the close fit of said coil within said shell.

4. A resistance-cartridge forelectric heating devices comprising an exterior tubular shell, a coil of resistance-ribbon wound on edge into a continuous helix, and insulation between the turns of said ribbon anda layer of mica between said ribbon and said shell.

5. A resistance-cartridge for electric heating devices comprising an exterior tubular shell, a coil of resistance-ribbon wound on edge into a continuous helix and closely fitted within said shell, insulation between the turns of said helix, and an intervening layer of mica between the exterior of the helix and the interior of said shell held from expansion by the close fit of said helix within said shell.

6. A resistance-cartridge for electric heating devices comprising an exterior tubular casing of good heat-conductive material, a resistance-winding located Within said casing and insulated therefrom by a layer of mica, and terminals for said winding extending from one end of said casing.

7. A resistance-cartridge for electric heating devices comprising an exterior tube and a resistance-ribbon wound on ed e into a continuous helix located within sai tube, insulation between the adjacent turns of said helix and betweensaid helix and said tube, heads located at the op osite ends of said tube, and terminals for said winding extending through one of said heads.

8. An electric flat-iron comprising a metal body provided with a smoothing face, an electric resistance unit located in heat-conductive relation thereto, and a weighted handle secured to said body.

9. An electric fiat-iron comprising a metal body provided with a smoothing-face, an electric resistance unit located in heat conductive relation to said face, and a weighted handle secured to said body provided with a covering of low heat conductivity.

1 0. An electric flat-iron comprising a metal body provided with a smoothing-face, an interior chamber adjacent to said face, an electric resistance unit located in said chamber, terminals for said unit extending through the open end of said chamber, and an insulatingb ock for holding the unit in place provided with openings for the passage of said termi- -nals.

11. An electric flat-iron comprising a metal body provided with a smoothin -face, an interior chamber adjacent to said ace, an electric resistance unit located in said chamber, terminals for said unit extending through the open end of said chamber, an insulating-block for holding the unit in place provided with openings for the passage of said terminals,

IIC

. ing

and nuts threaded on said terminals and bearplace.

L2. electric flat-iron comprising a'metal body provided with a smoothing-face, an interior chamber adjacent to said face, an elec'' tric resistance unit located'i'n said chamber, terminals for said nnit extendin' through'the open end of said chamber, latera l -'extendin grooves insaidbody adjacent to the open en of said chamber, and a removable insulatingblock fitted in said grooves for holding the resistance unit in lace.

13. An electric flat ironcompi'ising a metal body provided with a smoothing-face, an interiorchamber adjacent to said face, an elec-" tric resistance unit located in said' chamber, terminals for said Unit extending through the open end of said chamber, grooves in said body adjacent to the open end of said -chamber, and extendin latera'llythereto, a removable insulating-b ock fitted in said grooves against said. block to hold thesame in V V, g r. "'throu h openings in said block, and nuts ded on saidterminals' and bearing against said block to hold the same inplace.

' threa Witnesses:

for holding the resistance P'Iit in place, terminals for said resistance unit extending 14. An electric flat-iron comprisinga metal body, having small heat-storage capacity, "anelectric resistance located in heat conductive' relation theretofan'd a Weighted handle secured to said body. w o. s

'15. An electric flat-iron comprising a-metal body, provided with a smoothing-face and having a small heat-storage capacity, an electric resistance unit located adjacent to said face and in heat-conductive relation thereto,

and a'weighted handle secured to said body;

ln witness WhereofI have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of April, 1905*.

' FREDERICK M. VOGEL.

JOHN A. MCMANUS, Jr., HENRY 0.,WESTENDARP. 

